Last second field goal lifts Atlanta Falcons over San Francisco 49ers
Atlanta Falcons’ kicker Matt Bryant drilled a 42-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, to lift Atlanta to a 16-14 victory over the winless San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. This
is the second week in a row that Bryant kicks a game-winning field goal as he connected on a 46-yard field goal for a 27-24 overtime victory over the New Orleans Saints last Sunday in the Louisiana Superdome.
"It wasn't the prettiest kick," said Bryant. “But the only thing that matters is we get that 'W' when the ball went through the uprights."
Atlanta fell behind early on and were playing catch up for the entire game after San Francisco did something that they have failed to do in the past three weeks—score points. The 49ers got a solid performance
from their quarterback Alex Smith who started the game 8-8 for 65 yards and threw two touchdown passes in the first quarter. Vernon Davis was the recipient of that first TD pass which swung momentum on the 49ers side. Shortly after, rookie Taylor Mays caught
a blocked punt inside the end zone and kept both feet in bounds to put San Francisco comfortably in the lead.
"I saw him block it, picked it up and tried to keep my feet in bounds," Mays said. "It was a trip, but I would have given it all up for a win."
But the Niners were unable to hold off a relentless Falcons’ offence led by Matt Ryan, and blew a 14-0 first-quarter lead. After their strong start to the game, the Niners offensive failures, which have
plagued this team since the beginning of the season, once again carried over on Sunday. The offence wasn’t able to move the ball or the chains against a stout Falcons defence and this is the major reason why San Francisco has zero wins after four weeks of
football in the books.
Coming into this match, the 49ers’ offence was ranked last in the NFL, which led to the termination of the former offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Unfortunately for head coach Mike Singletary, his new
offensive coordinator Mike Johnson didn't see his charges put any points on the board after the first quarter..
Smith tossed two costly interceptions in the second half and Ryan and Atlanta’s offence capitalized on those mistakes and turned them into points. Smith finished the day going 21-of-32 for 188 yards and
one touchdown. Ryan had a better game in completing 26-of-43 passes for 273 yards and a score.
No one could have predicted a 0-4 start for the 49ers as some pundits thought that they would be the team to beat in the NFC West. Looks like it’s back to the drawing board for Singletary’s men.
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